Apple Tweaks App Store Buttons to Say 'Get' Instead of 'Free'

Apple has tweaked its App Store buttons replacing the 'Free' button previously used to download apps for no charge with a new button that reads 'Get'.

It's not exactly clear why Apple decided to change the wording of its buttons; however, it likely has to do with the controversy over in-app purchases.

Back in July, The European Commission issued a statement criticizing Apple for taking 'no concrete and immediate solutions' to address concerns with in-app purchases, in particular inadvertent purchases by children.

In December 2013, Apple, Google and the Interactive Software Federation of Europe where asked that:● Games advertised as "free" should not mislead consumers about the true costs involved;● Games should not contain direct exhortation to children to buy items in a game or to persuade an adult to buy items for them;● Consumers should be adequately informed about the payment arrangements for purchases and should not be debited through default settings without consumers’ explicit consent;● Traders should provide an email address so that consumers can contact them in case of queries or complaints.

Notably, Google agreed to make a number of changes, one of which was not using the word "free" at all when games contain in-app purchases. It's likely that Apple's change is a similar step to address EU concerns.